Shadows of the Forest

Chapter 24: Shadows of the Forest

The morning air was filled with tension as the village stirred to life.

Adam's father had already left the house, rushing toward the center of the village.

Rachel, accompanied by her children and Sophia, followed shortly after, their hurried steps echoing along the dirt path. The group moved quickly, anxiety etched on their faces.

Sophia, walking close to Yami, couldn't help but voice her concern. "Why is everyone heading to my house so suddenly? Did something happen?"

Yami glanced at Sophia, her own worry visible. "I don't know," she replied. "But Mom told us to get there as fast as possible. Something serious must have happened."

Sophia's face grew pale, her unease increasing with every step. Adam, walking silently beside her, noticed her distress.He is feeling very sad.

Seeing Sophia's sadness, he wants to put his hand on Sophia's shoulder and say, don't worry, I am with you, but he stops himself from doing this and wants to see first.

As they approached the village center, the atmosphere grew heavier. Adam noticed the crowd swelling near Sam's house, its large wooden frame dominating the area.

The road leading to the house was wider than most, bordered by neatly arranged homes and lined with curious villagers.

Adam spotted his father, Ricky, pushing through the growing crowd near Sam's front yard. Rachel, upon seeing some familiar women standing nearby, joined them to exchange hurried whispers.

Meanwhile, Adam and the rest of the group moved toward an area where children had gathered.

Among them, Adam spotted Robin, a boy around their age, with short auburn hair and a freckled face. Robin had been one of Adam and Sophia's closest friends during their childhood.

Seeing Robin triggered a flood of memories in Adam's mind.

He recalled countless days spent exploring the forest together, sharing stories, and laughing at silly jokes.

Robin's cheerful demeanor always seemed to brighten the group, and even now, his wide smile momentarily eased the tension in the air.

"Sophia, you're here!" Robin called out, jogging over. "Do you know what's going on? Your father's about to make an announcement."

Sophia frowned, worry evident on her face. She pushed through the cluster of children, making her way closer to her father. Adam, along with the others, followed closely.

When they reached the front yard, they saw Sam standing on the threshold of his house. His tall frame and commanding presence naturally drew attention.

Lying before him on the ground, covered in white cloths, were several bodies. The sight of the corpses caused a ripple of gasps and murmurs to spread through the crowd.

Sophia froze at the sight, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "What... what is this?" she whispered.

Beside her, George's curiosity got the better of him. He turned to a nearby boy and asked, "What happened here? Who are these people?"

The boy glanced at the bodies nervously before replying, "They were found in the forest this morning. No one knows who they are."

Adam, who had been trailing behind the group, overheard the exchange. As he caught sight of the covered corpses, his heart sank.

A wave of panic washed over him as he realized these were the very people he had killed the previous night.

His hand instinctively went to his forehead, pressing against it as he muttered under his breath, "I should have handled this better."

Adam's guilt gnawed at him. He had acted out of necessity to protect the village, but seeing the consequences laid out so starkly before him filled him with regret. "No one saw me," he reassured himself silently. "They have no way of knowing it was me."

If someone sees Adam, then he will be in a lot of trouble because he will not be able to explain to anyone why he did this and it will also be difficult for Adam to explain how he did this, that too alone.

Beside him, Sophia and Yami were pale, their eyes glued to the bodies.

Fear and unease were written across their faces, and Adam couldn't help but feel responsible for their distress.

Seeing Sophia and Yami in such a condition, Adam becomes very sad and closing his eyes, he says to Sophia and Yami in his mind, "Forgive me".

As the scene in the village unfolded, another, darker presence lurked on the outskirts.

Deep within the forest, just beyond the village's edge, eight figures moved swiftly and silently among the trees.

These were not ordinary men but members of the Soku Clan's branch family, samurai warriors tasked with a dangerous mission.

Their leader, Sinu, moved at the forefront, his black robes blending seamlessly with the shadows.

The lower half of his face was concealed beneath a mask, leaving only his piercing eyes visible.

Behind him, the other seven samurai followed in perfect formation.

Dressed in tight blue outfits, their faces were similarly obscured, with only their eyes exposed.

Each carried a katana strapped to their back, the blades glinting faintly under the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy.

As they approached the village's border, Sinu raised a hand, signaling the group to halt.

They perched gracefully on the thick branches of a towering tree, their movements so fluid and precise that not a single leaf rustled.

Sinu descended to the ground, his boots landing silently on the forest floor. From the cover of the trees, he gazed out at the village, his sharp eyes scanning the fields and houses in the distance.

Even from this distance, Sinu could sense it—a faint but undeniable magical presence emanating from within the village.

A wicked smile spread across his face as he muttered to himself, "There's a mage here."

The revelation only fueled his anticipation. Sinu's hand tightened around the hilt of his katana as he turned back to his men, his voice a low, commanding whisper. "Stay hidden. Observe. We'll make our move soon."

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The chapter ends with Sinu and his warriors poised on the edge of the forest, their intentions clear but their movements shrouded in mystery. In the village, the crowd waits anxiously for Sam to speak, unaware of the danger creeping closer.